Clarksville Town Council Meeting: Rate Hikes, Vehicle Fleet, and New Firefighter - November 4, 2025
Clarksville Town Council Meeting
November 4, 2025
The Clarksville Town Council held a regular meeting that included a public hearing on proposed sewer and stormwater rate increases, followed by votes on multiple ordinances. A new firefighter was sworn in, and a work session addressed critical needs in police and public works vehicle fleets.
Public Hearing: Sewage and Stormwater Rate Increases
- The town presented a need for rate increases based on a financial study completed in November 2024 and updated in early 2025. Proposed wastewater increases: 5% in 2026, 7% in 2027, 9% in 2028, 10% in 2029. Stormwater increases: 22% in 2026, 10% in 2027, 7% in 2028, 0% in 2029. Capacity fees remain unchanged through 2029.
- Two residents, Tracy King and Diana Day (both at addresses on Gutford Road), spoke in opposition. They noted they are on lift stations (which cost over $2,000 to replace), pay a flat rate, and would prefer to be on the town's gravity system. The town clarified that they are unmetered users subject only to the wastewater increases, not stormwater, and that extending gravity sewer would require annexation and agreement from many properties on private septics.
Consent Calendar
- Approved minutes from last regular meeting, claims (current and pre-written), and acceptance of minutes from various boards and commissions. Motion carried 6-0-1 (one abstention).
Unfinished Business
- Ordinance 2025 SW01 (Sewer Rate Increase): Second reading passed 4-3. Councilwoman Henderson noted the increases are necessary for system improvements.
- Ordinance 2025 SW02 (Stormwater Rate Increase): Second reading passed unanimously (7-0). Councilwoman Schiller clarified the 22% increase raises the base rate from $3.85 to $5.20.
- Ordinance 2025 G21 (Utility PILOT Fee): Establishes a payment in lieu of taxes from the utility to the general fund. Amounts: $301,700 in 2026, $401,700 in 2027, $101,700 in 2028, $1,201,700 in 2029. Second reading passed 5-2.
New Business
- Resolution 2025 R21 (Donation of 1904 Tennyson Drive): Amends a prior resolution to donate the property to Revelation Tabernacle Church (instead of Salvation Army) for a home for a Pathway of Hope family. Passed unanimously (7-0).
- Resolution 2025 R22 (Aerial Photography Interlocal): Renews contract for GIS mapping; cost to Clarksville is $7,857.14 annually (a decrease of $230 due to Charlestown joining). Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance 2025 S08 (Community Health Care Coordinator Salary): Upgrades position from $32.03/hour to $75,391.34 annually, funded by a $315,000 grant from Indiana Department of Public Health. Passed unanimously on both first and second readings.
- Ordinance 2025 S09 (Job Classification Amendment): Moves the community health care coordinator position from PAT3 to SAM3 classification. Passed unanimously on both first and second readings.
Reports
- Clerk-Treasurer Stone Cipher: Reported on year-end budget status and potential move to paperless claims.
- Economic Development Director Tammy Gibson: Updated on the Tennyson Drive property (now ready for permitting), fire station #3 pre-construction meeting (Sherman Construction, expected start early December, 180-day completion), and a lighting ceremony for the historic clock at the Clarks Landing/Colgate property on November 15th (101 years since original lighting).
Council Comments
- Council members thanked police for Halloween presence, wished happy Veterans Day, offered condolences to the family of a UPS pilot killed in a crash earlier that day, and congratulated the new firefighter. Clerk-Treasurer noted a simple Veterans Day ceremony will be held at 11:00 AM on November 11th (11/11), with flag raising and bell ringing.
Work Session: Vehicle Fleet
- Police Vehicles (Chief Walls): Proposed purchase of four police vehicles (three from Lloyd Equipment Fund, one from federal drug fund) to replace aging, unreliable Dodge Durangos. Durangos have high maintenance costs (brakes every 20,000 miles at $600, frequent electrical/cooling issues) and last 4-5 years vs. expected 7-10 years for Chevy Tahoes. Council discussed budget balances and the need to maintain a replacement cycle of 10-12 vehicles per year for a fleet of 60. No vote taken; discussion for future agenda.
- Public Works Vehicles (Manager Baity): Addressed critical needs: two 2006 garbage trucks ($330-350K each), a 2013 grapple truck (wiring harness no longer available), and a 2013 Vactor truck needing $125,000 in repairs vs. $450,000 replacement. A possible sanitation fee of $5/month per customer was floated to generate ~$340,000 annually. No vote taken.
Key Outcomes
- Sworn in new firefighter Brandon Seifre.
- Approved sewer rate increase (4-3), stormwater rate increase (7-0), and utility PILOT fee (5-2) on second readings.
- Approved property donation to Revelation Tabernacle Church (7-0).
- Approved aerial photography interlocal agreement (7-0).
- Approved salary upgrade for community health care coordinator (7-0 on both readings).
- Approved job classification amendment for same position (7-0 on both readings).
- Council will consider police vehicle purchases and potential sanitation fee at future meetings.
- Veterans Day ceremony scheduled for November 11, 2025 at 11:00 AM.
Meeting Transcript
Of the Clarksville Town Council, if you would please stand and join us in saying the Pledge of Allegiance. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Tonight is a special occasion as we're going to swear in a new firefighter. So would I like to invite forward Judge Gilfall along with uh assistant chief uh Dennis Johnson? Yeah, my microphone. If you would please pronounce your name in full. And repeat after me. I do solemnly swear that. I will support uphold and defend the constitutions of the United States of America. The State of Indiana. And the laws and rules of the town of Clarksville. That I will well and truly perform the duties of the office to which I will hold. As a firefighter. I will obey the commands of my commanding officers. To the best of my ability. And protect the property of the town of Clarksville. Without fear, favor reservation. So help me God. Congratulations. Brandon was born and raised in Jervisoville, Indiana. He graduated from Providence High School and received his degree in criminal justice from IU Bloomington. Before the Clarksville Fire Department, Brandon worked for Clark County 911, where he gained valuable experience in public safety, communications, and response. Brandon's grandfather and great-grandfather served as firefighters. Brandon has always known he wanted a career in public safety. His time at Clark 911 allowed him to experience many aspects of emergency services and ultimately. Please welcome Brandon Seifre, Clarksville Fire Department. And I believe there are going to be some maybe pictures taken in the lobby, which is just to everyone's right, and you're welcome to uh together there with Brandon. We do not have anyone who has signed up this evening to make public comments, so we'll move on to a public hearing that we have for sewage and stormwater rate increases. The town provides both sewage works or wastewater collection and treatment and stormwater collection and disposal to residents and non-residents who are attached to the collection systems. The cost of providing such service and undertaking capital improvement projects on the system is analyzed periodically to verify revenues or keeping pace with and not being exceeded by expenditures. The most recent financial study completed in November of 24 and updated in early 2025 looked at costs of operation, planned capital improvement projects, and debt service on existing bonds, and compared this to current and expected future revenues. The resulting findings indicate there is a need to increase rates and charges to properly operate the system, cover debt obligations, and provide for capital improvement projects. Per Indiana Code, a public hearing must be held to allow an opportunity for people to speak in favor of or in opposition to the proposed rates. For fiscal year 2026, the wastewater would see an increase of 5%. For 2027, 7%, 2028, 9%, and 2029, 10%. Similar annual increases will be applied to excessive strength wastewater effluent surcharges and residential, non-metered user rates. The capacity fees will remain this remain unchanged through 2029. Likewise, there will be increases in the stormwater rates. For 2026, the increase will be 22 percent for 2027, 10 percent for 2028, 7%, and in 2029, a zero percent increase. At this time, I would ask if there's anybody who wishes to come forward and speak at this public hearing in favor of or in opposition to the rate increases. Right. And if you would for the record uh name and address for the public minutes. I'm Tracy King and I live at 2217 Gutford Road in Clarksville. And I'm Diana Day. I live at 2309 Godford Road. Thank you. We're not even sure if we're unmetered or what, because we get a bill from the Clarksville wastewater, but we both are on um lift stations. And we both have had to replace our lift stations, which is well over well over $2,000 to replace them. And we both live alone. We're single, live alone, and she's on Social Security.
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